ENTREPRENEURS TO WATCH Jamie Gottschall Master multi-tasker and the Martha Stewart of style, Jamie Gottschall dominates the DIY lifestyle with her Indomitable<strong>Style</strong> brand and her mission to inspire, educate, and empower those with big dreams on a budget. Sticking to the mantra of “affordable luxury” Gottschall is perfecting the art of living, with everyday style. Don’t let the stylish exterior fool you; This “Jill of All Trades” has years of industry experience with financial firms Merrill Lynch & Wasserstein Perella, that paired with training alongside the top style experts. There’s nothing she doesn’t know a little bit about. <strong>RAINE</strong>: You have a positive outlook on the amazing possibilities that life holds for each and every one of us. How did you come across this nugget of wisdom that is widely known, but seldom practiced? GOTTSCHALL: It is through both instinct and experience that allows me to possess this wisdom you are talking about. Please allow me to explain both. Instinct is when we allow our natural 5 senses to show us the way. I believe the use of our natural senses is becoming a lost art. All too often, individuals rely on the internet for answers, doctors and friends, but the truth is (in my opinion) our answers are all within each and every one of us. Example; I can taste something and recreate it without the recipe, simply by tuning into my heightened senses to recall taste, scent and texture. As for experience, there is no better schooling than the school of hard knocks. While my friends were out getting their Masters degrees, I had already long mastered my passions and crafts. I am a listener, an absorber, a person who can see something and recreate it 10x’s better and do it the first time around. As for what keeps me so positive? My craft, which is work for many, is a true labor of love. I have always seen my future, so a positive outlook is what gives me my vision to create what I have seen my entire life. If you dream it, you can live it, as long as you believe in your dreams. <strong>RAINE</strong>: Who in your life has helped to influence your decisions as a creative entrepreneur? GOTTSCHALL: My late father believed in me, he taught me to dream and dream big. He was always dreaming and creating, it’s sad he couldn’t live the dream to the fullest, but I think instead, his mission in life was to inspire me to reach what he couldn’t. He showed me the way. <strong>RAINE</strong>: What one piece of business advice would you offer budding entrepreneurs that has helped you more than any other advice? GOTTSCHALL: If I had to offer budding entrepreneurs a piece of business advice, it would be two simple things; to believe in yourself no matter what and by that I mean, change for no one. A successful person truly believes in themselves. They believe in what they are branding or selling and they do it with absolute conviction. My second piece of advice is to build a platform so big, that no one but you can take center stage. <strong>RAINE</strong>: As an entrepreneur, what has been your biggest challenge and what steps did you take to successfully reach your goals? GOTTSCHALL: My biggest challenge as an entrepreneur was learning how to chase and find success on my own. I have never done business with THE NEXT QUEEN OF DOMESTIC LIVING a publicist or an agent. I had to rely on those instincts to find my way, a challenge well worth the risk. <strong>RAINE</strong>: You are considered a “Jack of all trades” by many in the industry. Would you say that being well versed with many skills has been one of the keys to your success? GOTTSCHALL: Being well versed in diverse industries has been a blessing, with training from the top experts in the genres in which I cover. Next to hard work, time and experience-- this component has provided me with credibility that has been invaluable to my personal success. <strong>RAINE</strong>: Your body of work points to the fact that you are driven to succeed. What can other entrepreneurs learn from your accomplishments? GOTTSCHALL: What other entrepreneurs can learn from my accomplishments is to take any negative energy that may pose as a roadblock, and use it as positive fuel that catapults you forward. <strong>RAINE</strong>: Inevitably, we all have failures in business and in life. How do you view failures? GOTTSCHALL: I view failure not as a weakness, but our greatest stepping stones to success. <strong>RAINE</strong>: You have a great sense of style. What are 3 pieces of advice you can give to men and women who would like to develop their own style? GOTTSCHALL: The 3 pieces of advice I would give to any gender when interested in developing their own sense of style: Seek inspiration in what you love. I sincerely believe people find comfort in familiarity. When you have finally developed your style, wear it like you mean it. There is nothing worse than a stylish guy or gal that is not as confident as their clothing. There is nothing better than diversity in life and that includes your wardrobe. Don’t be afraid to practice mixing and matching; colors, patterns and textures. Soon enough, you will be a walking work of art. <strong>RAINE</strong>: Your ultimate goal is to host a daytime television show. What will you bring to your viewers that will be unique and different from other talk show host? GOTTSCHALL: My uniqueness is what has always separated me from the rest and that comes from several beliefs; My ability to trust “instinct” when creating and empowering others. It’s an untouched perspective. I want to show my audience that to create is to trust the natural gifts we are born with, in effort to bring vision to fruition. I firmly believe in my mantra, “affordable luxury.” Demonstrating how being resourceful and sometimes thrifty doesn’t have to mean shabby. A fabulous lifestyle has nothing to do with how full your purse is, but how resourceful you are. There are many chefs and talk show hosts on television, but none that has the diverse experience that I have or can bring to the table. <strong>RAINE</strong>: The pursuit of happiness. What does that mean to you as an entrepreneur? GOTTSCHALL: The pursuit of happiness as an entrepreneur for me is what I can ultimately do for others in the end. When you can give and not seek anything in return, well, there is nothing that could bring me more joy. Photos by Jason T. Jaskot 20 <strong>RAINE</strong> <strong>MAGAZINE</strong> - VOLUME <strong>21</strong>
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